Looking for Elastic Strap for A5 Notebook

[GNL]

My favorite notebook for fountain pens is the A5 ruled, wire-bound Romeo made in Japan.  Unfortunately, this notebook doesn't come with an elastic strap to keep it closed.  Does anyone have a recommendation for a place to buy an elastic strap that would fit the A5's vertical 8-inch dimension?

 

Thanks in advance, FPN community!

 

Gary

[OCArt]

Amazon and others sell very large rubber bands, about 15mm wide. Would that work for you?

[inkstainedruth]

Or you could buy the right length and width of elastic for what you need (or a cheap package and cut the length you need) and sew the ends together.   Something like this: https://www.joann.com/1%2F4-inch-knit-elastic-by-the-yard--white/17727447.html (although you might want 3/8" instead of quarter inch: https://www.joann.com/pellon-3%2F8-inch-knit-elastic-by-the-yard/17721218.html). 

Any fabric store should have what you need (you probably want something not too wide.  The advantage of buying a larger package and cutting what you need is that you can use the rest for other notebooks (as well as -- possibly --  for the waistband of sweat pants or shorts, although you might want wider for that use).

Not sure if this stuff comes in other colors besides white, but I seem to recall that in the past there was also black available (I haven't been in a Jo-Ann Fabrics in several years, and haven't WORKED in one since the early 1990s). And a bottle of RIT dye will probably fix that if it isn't -- and you can then pick whatever color you want, and follow the instructions on the bottle.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[inkypete]

If you a near a Daiso check out the number 40 rubber bands. They work a treat.

[dipper]

Elastic strip, as @inkstainedruth says, works well. (Can also be found in supermarkets, in a little display area on the end of an aisle with the reels of sewing thread, needles, and whatnots.)

 

Rubber bands get dirty and can grab onto paper pages and tear them. Elastic strip avoids those hazards.

Sewing elastic strip by hand is tricky, and tends to look a bit ugly. Not an issue if hidden inside the waistband of a garment. Can look ugly on a notebook though.

 

The joining technique that I use is to lay the two ends together, both pointing in the same direction. Bind tightly with thin strong thread tied around both strips. Cut off the excess tails with scissors, leaving a stub standing up. This creates a neat little handle to grab the band by.

 

After many years of heavy use it may be time for these two to be replaced....

[inkypete]

Never had that problem with rubber bands. I use them on about 6 notebooks at the moment.

 

These bookbands look good. https://www.jetpens.com/Maruman-Puo-Book-Band-Brown/pd/26254#index=1

 

I also have a few made by Delfonics but they are harder to find now. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.presentandcorrect.com%2Fcollections%2Fpens-pencils%2Fdelfonics&psig=AOvVaw3Si-xNLSwpsdJSClUos9WM&ust=1646966331853000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAgQjRxqFwoTCIjHj-vBuvYCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI

 

[dipper]

Those Maruman book-bands are sweet.

They are made from rubber strips covered with a braided thread - same as the sewing-shop elastic recommended.

 

Lost in translation?

In the UK a "rubber-band" or "elastic-band" is naked rubber, no covering.

Sewing-elastic, more rudely known as "knicker-elastic", has the rubber enclosed in a braided thread covering.

 

[Licue]

https://filofax.com/clipbook-saffiano-fluoro-elastic-closure-filofax.html

 

It seems this one would be permanently glued to the notebook tho (kinda similar to these glue-in pen loops, I think).

[amberleadavis]

Believe it or not the elastic headbands often fit perfectly and are quite decorative.

[inkypete]

On 3/9/2022 at 8:19 AM, GNL said:

My favorite notebook for fountain pens is the A5 ruled, wire-bound Romeo made in Japan.  Unfortunately, this notebook doesn't come with an elastic strap to keep it closed.  Does anyone have a recommendation for a place to buy an elastic strap that would fit the A5's vertical 8-inch dimension?

 

Thanks in advance, FPN community!

 

Gary

Hey Gary - where do you live?

[ParramattaPaul]

Google 'pen quiver'.  

[Karmachanic]

This at Aliexpress

[GNL]

12 hours ago, inkypete said:

Hey Gary - where do you live?

Los Angeles

[ParramattaPaul]

13 hours ago, ParramattaPaul said:

Google 'pen quiver'.  

This is what I have.  It works perfectly and is sized for A5 notebooks and journals.  LINK:  A5 Pen Band – William Hannah Limited

[GNL]

Thanks to everyone for your help.  This got me to think about other solutions and I found something that worked PERFECTLY:

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BYWW5WJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Anne-Sophie]

 

Pack of thin elastic headbands at your local supermarket in the hair accessories area.

[inkstainedruth]

On 3/13/2022 at 12:40 AM, GNL said:

Thanks to everyone for your help.  This got me to think about other solutions and I found something that worked PERFECTLY:

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BYWW5WJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Wow.  Those are really cool!  Do they come in various size lengths (or are adjustable to fit different size books?  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[GNL]

I don’t know, Ruth - I only saw that particular one.  It fits my A5 Romeo notebook perfectly but I’m certain it would work for a full-size notebook as well.  They’re stretchy and very nicely made.  Could not be happier with it.  Lovely color choices, too!  I bought a couple extra in case mine ever wears out and I can’t find them in the future.